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Outdoor briefs for the week of Aug. 21

5:21 a.m. MDT August 21, 2014

Linda Bingemann of Great Falls took this photo, which she calls “Lovely Loon,” while kayaking on Blanchard Lake.
“The loon popped up from under the water, and I was able to get a quick picture before it dove back under the water,” Bingemann writes.
If you have a favorite outdoors photo you would like to share, please email it to triboutdoors@greatfallstribune.com. Include your name, hometown, phone number and a sentence or two about where the photo was taken and a few details.
(Photo:
Linda Bingemann photo
)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game wardens are offering a reward for information about a mule deer buck that was killed illegally south of Columbus over the weekend.

Game warden Paul Luepke said the mule deer buck was shot illegally sometime late Saturday or early Sunday on private land eight miles south of Columbus. The poacher removed most of the meat, but left the head and antlers.

FWP is offering a reward of as much as $1,000 for information leading to a conviction of the persons responsible for the illegal kill.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Luepke at 406-690-8888 or 800-TIP-MONT.

Block management area information now available

For the 2014 hunting season, about 1,230 landowners have enrolled about 7.4 million acres in Montana's Block Management Program.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks program provides hunters with public hunting access to private land free of charge.

Information about specific Block Management Area opportunities is now available at all FWP offices and on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov.

Some BMA reservations may be made this season beginning Friday. Others won't open reservation lists until later in this fall.

• Aug. 28 — Middle Fork River Ecology with Tom Bansack, $65. Forming the southern boundary of Glacier National Park, the Middle Fork Flathead River offers many opportunities to see the processes that shape this dramatic landscape.

Learn about river ecology and examine firsthand the interesting features of this river and its floodplain.

• Aug. 28-31 — Geology at Sperry Chalet with Jeff Kuhn, $650.This hike is strenuous, involving 24 miles in three days with a significant incline and includes two nights at the historic Sperry Chalet and meals.